For me, iMADdu is a cross between a lifestyle choice and a paradigm for defining myself. The Beatles once sang, “You know, we all want to change the worldâ€. But at iMADdu – its not just wanting to change the world, its not just making a difference, but its (in addition to those things) challenging and empowering others to launch their own revolutions. iMADdu moments happen every day. Teachers encourage their students; parents their children; and coaches their athletes. And yet the challenge is that everyday people with great potential go under leveraged in their education and careers. To combat this, iMADdu seeks to narrow the gap between what you know and who you know.
When I was interning my freshman year I had a high paying job in Manhattan in a sexy office (glass and exposed brick galore). I was a “Director of Communications†– but that’s where the cool part ended. I had my desk – and no real task at hand. Being a self-starter, I painstakingly restructured their filing system. I was able to impress my superiors, but I wasn’t making a difference. I was filling a suit.
I stuck it out for the whole summer, but vowed to myself to never take a job where I couldn’t see my impact again. That certainly wasn’t the last job I would have where I felt my hands were tied – but by being continually challenged by my peers and myself I’ve finally found a job where I can make a difference in hundreds of peoples lives. Thankfully I never settled.
